Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global competition in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
